Mod_lisp Home Page

Latest release : See repository.

mod_lisp is an Apache module to easily write web applications in Lisp.

mod_lisp talk from Apache to lisp processes by sockets with a very straightforward protocol to handle a request. It now reuses the Apache to Lisp sockets for improved performance. Future versions will probably be more Lisp specific, but for now it can be used by any other language.

Why mod_lisp?

The Lisp servers are application servers. I don't want to bother the Lisp applications with things like serving gif or jpeg files or even static pages in some cases. Using mod_lisp I can separate the HTTP servers from the application servers. The architecture I am promoting is like this: One or more Apache front ends to serve static content (like images), one or more Lisp application servers to process the application logic and databases servers to store the data.

Time is the scarcest resource so I don't want to waste it to implement things like SSL, keeping up to date with HTTP protocols etc. The Apache people do this with a sufficient quality, I don't see any interest to do it myself.

I can benefit from the Apache modules if I need them (mod_gzip for instance)

The market acceptance is quite better. It's really easier to sell an Apache + FreeBSD + (Postgresql or Oracle) + Lisp solution than a Lisp + FreeBSD + (Postgresql or Oracle) solution. In the first case Lisp is perceived as yet another web language like Perl, Python and others. In the second case you have to advocate the use of Lisp.

mod_lisp is released under a FreeBSD style license.

It's easier to work on a project where the Lisp web application is only a part of a web site.